The Bad and the Beautiful
A sharp, bittersweet look at Hollywood ambition, told through flashbacks that reveal how success can corrode relationships.
Cynical, satirical · about ambition and betrayal · ensemble
A glittering, talky backstage drama where wit and ambition cut like knives, leaving a lingering chill about what people will do to be adored.
About 1950 film by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Genres drama, comedy
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Written by Erich Kästner, Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Starring Marilyn Monroe, Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Celeste Holm, George Sanders, Thelma Ritter, Gary Merrill, Steven Geray
Music Alfred Newman
Runtime 138 min
Country United States
Links Wikipedia · IMDb · Letterboxd · Wikidata
A sharp, bittersweet look at Hollywood ambition, told through flashbacks that reveal how success can corrode relationships.
Cynical, satirical · about ambition and betrayal · ensemble
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A sharp, cynical plunge into a nocturnal world of manipulation and moral rot, where every line cuts and the atmosphere is thick with menace.
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A sharp, gossipy dive into backstage rivalries and social circles, mixing wit with melancholy and a lingering sense of betrayal.
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A playful, theatrical thriller that keeps you guessing about who is lying, with wit and charm wrapped around a dark deception.
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A sharp, talky, black-and-white plunge into Hollywood backrooms, witty and weary, rewarding close attention with a lingering melancholy.
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A slow, smoky burn of pool-hall tension and quiet desperation, watching a talented man wrestle his own character in dim rooms.
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A wry, insider's tour of Hollywood vanity and moral compromise, laced with unease and dark laughs.
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A wry, bittersweet ensemble piece where everyone chases happiness and mostly misses, leaving a lingering sense of irony.
Cynical, satirical · about betrayal and identity · ensemble
A taut, stage-bound cat-and-mouse game where elegant conversation conceals cold calculation, keeping you leaning in to catch every clue.
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Watching a charismatic huckster's rise and fall feels like a sweaty, soul-searching sermon: gripping, morally tangled, and ultimately heartbreaking.
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A slick, quietly ruthless rise-and-rise story that makes ambition feel both infectious and hollow.
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A lush, heart-wrenching melodrama that sweeps you up in its glossy tears and leaves you quietly devastated.
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